IMPORTS FROM AMERICA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23972, 12 June 1943, Page 6

IMPORTS FROM AMERICA

DIFFICULTIES IN NEW PROCEDURE

NUMEROUS INQUIRIES Importers are co-operating to the best of their ability in supplying requirements of imports from America in compliance with the programme-planning outlined by the Minister of Supply, (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). Difficulties have already arisen, however. The secretary of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr J. Roy Smith) said yesterday that the chamber had already received numerous inquiries, some of which it was not in a position to answer. The main problem, one outside the Ministry's control, was the shortness of the time in which importers had to collect the required information and send it forward. They had until June 21, Monday week. The chamber had issued circulars urging members to expedite the work, but the fact remained that the very shortness of the time must impair the accuracy of the information supplied as estimates would have to be given without the opportunity of the normally close inquiries. Moreover, the Ministry's instruction sheets admitted that time did not permit correspondence or return of forms for amendments or clarification and asked importers to make their own “logical interpretations.”

One of the main problems, Mr Smith said, had arisen over the definition of commodities—of which 400 to 500 were listed—and whether some items could be grouped or separate "requirement forms” had to to be made out for each commodity, which in some cases would involve a colossal number of forms and a great amount of work. The classifications of commodities also appeared unnecessarily detailed for New Zealand requirements in many cases, and too scant in others. Doubtless the classifications had been arranged to suit the American end.

The amount of information required would in many cases involve a herculean job. Details were required of source of supply, 1942 imports, 1943 requirements, estimate for 1944, percentages of goods to be used in various categories, and other details. The chamber was asking importers to co-operate and was helping as far as possible. However, it did appear that much of the information required was already in the hands of the Customs Depart-ment-details of 1942 imports and of 1943 licences, for instance—which the department could have made available to the Ministry of Supply. As a means of overcoming interpretation problems, the importers’ section of the chamber had yesterday decided to suggest to the Minister, through Associated Chambers, .that he send a departmental officer immediately to each of the four main centres. The official would then be available in an advisory capacity for the week in which requirement forms were being made out.